"Comparisons are odious," wrote Cervantes in Don Quijote. Nowhere is that more true than in football - a world fuelled by statistics, noise, and the endless urge to crown the next Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal has heard it all before.
When the question came - again - he didn't bite.
"I don't compare myself with him," he said. "I don't want to compare myself with anyone, and even less with Messi. That's something I leave to you.
"He is the best player in football's history. I am making my own way."
So, what are we doing talking about Messi in a Lamine Yamal piece? It is just to create some context, because there are some stunning statistics.
Lamine Yamal turns 18 on Sunday by which time he will have played 106 first-team games - 73 in La Liga, 23 in Europe, six in the Copa del Rey and four others.
By the time Messi turned 18, despite having become - at 17 years, three months and 22 days - the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition, he had played nine first-team games for the club.
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